The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-07-30

| tSf EnAh D6lDg tFeaEeu with S2teftE SEOfW.
/ am, Sir, Yours truly, BOB SNAP.
ssAm Episode of tlRe Past"
DeSoto Democrat.
Under the above heading, Editor Puekette,
in recent issue of the Shreveport Times,
writes a very skillfully arranged and plaus-
BILE sounding article, defending Gen. Nichols
conduct in appointing negroes and Repnbli-
cans to office. This article is followed by
communication signed Epsilon" who writes
SO nearly in the same strain, as to lead ms TO
the conclusion that Editor Puoketfe's article
was inspired by the author thereof They
both luuge powerfully, like big fish in shallow
water and all of their conclusions are drawn
from q false conception of the facts. In Ed
itor Puckette's case we can account for this
| astonishing blunder, because he only speaks
from hearsay, the events of which he writes
having occurred when he was wearing "short
britches and long socks; but not knowing
| q Epsilon" we can make no excuse for him,
but he sWaggers like horse with blind stag
gers, and knows ! not CIV Wnereot ne speatss. KS o,;
teal history of the Democratic party since
| the war; so far as the State OF Louisiana Is
concerned.
lst From 1865 to 1874 was period of con-
eiliation. A large number of white Demo
Gratis were at first disfranehised, and the De
mocracy tried to persuade aud conciliate the
| ignorant and prejudiced negro vote. In ae-
| eordance with this cowardly plan, We nonin-
| ated Armstead and Sella Martin, both negroes,
| and voted for them. We followed the exam
| ple of the National Democracy, who the same
wear. In their contemplate demagoguery nom
| mated that Prince of Mug -wump-h -heans, h0f-
| ace Greeley, and we all swallowed the pill, as
/ hitter as it was. We were beaten in every
| contest, q natural consequence OF our arrant
cowardice. The result of this disgusting pol
| --h;ob kbank Cad Can Nich0ilS the
| onIy advocate left in the State, We had the
| TySil Rights BILL and social equality was
/ made the law of the land. Taxes were as
| high as per cent in some of the parishes, the
/ entire school fund was stolen outright, ene
| neoDIe were plundered, the judgments OF the
| conrts, and the pardon of criminals. were bar
| tered so openly that they might as we'll have
| heen auotefl in the Stock Market, murder was
rampant, anarchy and devastation overspread
| the land, and the disgusting yea horrible
4 scheme of miscegenation was even 8dy0cat-
| ed. as the only solution of the negro problem.
This was the first episode" and Is aoso.
luteIy true as eve: :ybody knows. 1t is no word
picture, but stern facts While we know
| that Gen. Nichols does not favor the return
of this sad and deplorable state OF anairs, we
his views and policy tend in that direction,
and hence we must oppose him for Governor,
or for any other office as for that matter:
/ The second " episode" dawned in 1874 Ht
was conceived and brought forth 10 the very
sanctum now occupied by Editor Puokette,
its sire was H. j. Hearsey, its dam A. ID. Bat
tie, then the editors of the Shreveport Times.
The white people of Louisiana had been drly-
/ en- to desperation, outraged and plundeFed, /,
even their self-respect had been sacrinced
upon the altar of Cancellation. Ihey eouio see
no light ahead, and thousands were leaving
the State: they arose In their might, and de
termined to break the shackles from on sheir
limbs. or die in the attempt; the clarion notes
of the Shreveport Times was then heard nrg-
i ing the people to action. They arose IN tneir
might. the White League was organized, all
measures of policy and conciliation were scat
tered to the four winds of Heaven, the white
people ceased to beg for the privilege OF living
in the land Inherited from their fathers, 6ut
demanded the right TO rule the same. Inc
fraudulent State government, relic OF Ine
first Is Episode had an armed body OF negro
militia, commanded by the negro Lewis, Ten
Nichols comrade in his canvass agalne6 ene
4 Z smoeratic party during the last politlcai
campaign, and blood ran freely in every par
ish in the State-remember Coushatta, Bos
sier. CoIfax and the I4th of September. The
I Democrats nominated Honest John c. Mon,
cure, for State Treasurer, and all other ofhce'
, with equally as good men; they made the
fight. and not only won the victory but the
good opinion and respect of all liberty loving
people. Louisiana was no longer looked upoI
as d second Hayti, but as proud State, peo
Dled by brave men, who knew their rights anc
, dared to maintain them. The first Episode
/ had departed and the second ONE inaugural
ed. At the next election in 1876, the SAM
J open, candid and manly policy was pursued
] and complete victory crowned their enoFls
Their very daring conquered the respect
, the world, and Louisiana was again free, AMI
: ita career has been onward and upward eve
: aimee. The tyrants' shackles that riveted GU
81 limbs were shattered by the White League
t and it is bare-faced demagoguery to claim tha
tntan
} DIished that result. However, after we hat
! won the glorious victory. we found that W
s had placed as the head of our State Govern
7 ment man who repudiated and condemned
the very methods by which he was elected
: That man was Gen. Nichols, honest as tn
r days are long, but as unreliable and mn
] certain, politically speaking, as th
: wind that blows What were VI
o i to do2 We could not openly condemn
B | our own men, whom We knew to be hoEes
: and conscientious, but We could not perml
= him to lead us back, into that social and poll
{ | ticat purgatory from which we had just 81
/ caDed. bY placing our necks within the halte
o and taking our lives within our own hands
Q | Blood had run freely to rid ourselves of th
d vampires, and what were we to do The des
i perate expedient of changing the organic lay
! of the land was restored 60, and althoug
d Coy. Nichols term Of office had hardly begun
8 | q new constitution was framed, and he wa
D turned out of Office, and not one of those nt
8 BILE Senators who confirmed bis negro kepnl
! lican appointments, dared 20 mention his nam
ii for renomiuasiOn 60 the Office be then hele
8 That sWay-back Democrat, and gallant Iittl
3 Frenchman, L. a.. WiItz, was nominated an
) Louisiana was redeemed in fact 10 well as
y theory.
Il We ask brother Puekette to look ct thes
q two Episodes We tried one and it resul
s ed in civil rights bills, robbery, plnnder an
RI poverty We tried the other, an open, cal
4 did bnt firm policy, and it resulted in peac
eI plenty and prosperity even She negroes. "
8 der the stern syBtem of netting out Jnselc
hut forcing them to understand their axa
. place, have grown better Of, are being bett
s edncated, and are generally happier. Ge
5 Nicholls represents the ideas practicad On
sr ing The first Episode 4 and every good naa
Il sway back Democrat or not, shOuid earnea
& ly pray GOD to spare our behaved State,
loDg-suaiering people, from such anosIlef {
u Fiction, lee il come with tho entIeang balt
s. gallant and misiuaed Cenfederaf8 solder,
.n in the oifensiye garb Of carpet -baggeg
,e scalawag We love Gen. Nicholas aa 3 "
Is hero. bist God deliver is from him as d 20
s. tieiaI.
e What's tbs disEsEence between the tharsk